The works of Horace : with English notes, critical and ... - Cristo Raul

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EXPLANATORY NOTES. BOOK II.) EPISTtE H. GST
other things, the produce of his extensive possessions.—161. Quum segetes
occat. " When he harrows the fields." By aegetes is here meant the
arable land, which is getting prepared by the harrow for the reception of
the grain.—168. Te domirmm sentit. " Feels that thou art the true lord
of the soil," t. e., well knows that the produce is intended for thee, and
that, thus far, thou art, to all intents and purposes, the true owner.—165.
Emtum. Purchased originally by Orbins, but to which thoo also hast, in
one sense, acquired the title of proprietor ; Dot, indeed, by a single large
payment, like that of Orbius, but by the constant purchase of the produce
of the land.—166. Qu^ referf, vvoas nwmerato nup&r an olmiT &c.
"What difference does it make, whether thou livest on money counted
out just now or several years ago7" *. e., whether the articles on which
thou art feeding were purchased just now from the lands of another, or
whether they are the prcduce of lands bought by thee many years since.
The train of ideas in what follows is this : He who purchased, some time
ago, possessions situate in the neighborhood either of Aricia or of Yeii,
pays, as well as thou, for the plate of herbs he sups on, though perhaps
he fancies quite otherwise ; he boils his pot at night with wood that he
has bought even as thou dost. And though, when he surveys his possessions,
he says " this land is' mine," yet the land, in fact, is not his, any
more than it is thine ; for how can that be called the property of any one,
which, in the short space of an hour, may change masters, and come into
the possession of another by gift, by sale, by violence, or by death 3 Numerato.
Supply nummo.
167-172. 167. AnciTO,. I'or an account of Aricia, consult note on Sat.
i., 5,1. Veientis. The city of Veil was one of the most famous in ancient
Etruria. It lay to the northeast ofHome, but its exact position was never
dearly ascertained until Holstenius directed the attention of antiquaries
to the spot known by the name of I'Isola Famese, and situate about a
mile and a half to the northeast of the modem post-house ofZa Storta.—
170. Sed vocat usque suum, qua populus adsita, &c. " And yet he calls
the land bis own, as far as where the planted poplar prevents quarrels
among neighbors, by means of the limit which It fixes." Usque must be
joined in construction with qua, as if the poet had said usqiie eo quo.—171.
Jtefugit. The peculiar force of the perfect here is worthy of notice. Literally,
"Aos hitherto prevented, and still contirmes to prevent."—173. SU
iproprium. " Can be a lasting possession."^ Puncto mobilis horee. " In
a fleeting hour's space," i. e., in the short space of a single hour.
175-182. 175. Et heres heredem alterius velut unda tupervenit undam.
"And one man's heir urges on another's, as wave impels wave." The
Iiatinity of alterius, which Bentley and Cunningham have both questioned
(the former reading aitemis, and the latter ulterior), is, notwithstanding
the objections of these critics, perfectly correct. The poet does not refer
to two heirs merely, hut to a long succession of them, and in this line of
descent only two individuals are each time considered, namelyi the last
and the present possessor.—177. Vid. " Farms." Quidve Calabris saltibus
adjeeti Lucani 1 " Or what, Xucanian joined to Calabrian pastures,"
i. «., so wide' in extent as to join the pastures of Calabria.^78. Si metit
Orcus grandia cum pairms, &o. " If Death, to be moved by no bribe,
mows down alike the high and the lowly."—180. Marmor, eiur. The al
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